OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS’ BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21032, 22 May 1930, Page 3

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS’ BOARD

MONTHLY MEETINGS _ The monthly meeting of the Otago High Schools Board of Governors was held yesterday afternoon, there being present Dr Thompson (chairman), Mrs S. M. Park, Messrs J, J. Mallard, J. C. Stephens, W, R. Brugh, Dr Marshall Macdonald, the Ven. Archdeacon Fitchett, and Mr D, T. Fleming, M.L.C. FINANCE, The financial statement showed that the receipts since April 14 had been £3IOO, and the payments £2453, the excess in payments over receipts be.ng £353. The principal amount involved in the payments was an item for salaries, £1502. Accounts amounting to £1966 were passed for payment. A SINGING MASTER. * A deputation consisting of Messrs J. C. H. Somerville and D. J. Colder waited upon the meeting with a request that a jester of singing might be appointed lor wie Boys’ High School. Mr Somerville said they appreciated the boys’ actions in having placed a piano in the school, but it was felt that it was not used sufficiently. The reason why the matter had been brought forward was that it was thought that something should be' done to encourage singing in the school, and that the board might pay for a i.alf-time or a whole-time singing master. The chairman said that they recognised the importance of the matter because of the growth of the aesthetic side of life. The board would look into the matter and see what could be done. Some way might be found for subsidising or defraying the cost. Mr Brugh said that if the Old Boys Society learned that the object required assistance, through the proper channel, it would be considered. The matter was referred to the Finance Committep for favourable consideration. GENERAL. It was decided to provide six sets of boxing gloves for the Boys’ School, to procure an estimate for laying down permanent lines in cement for the fives courts, and to purchase a double bass for the school orchestra. The' Education Department wrote stating that the appointments of Misa Morton and Mies Kerr (Girls’ High School) and Messrs John Williams, W. J. Martyn, and O. J. Begg (Boys’ High School) as heads of departments had been approved of by the department for the current year.— Received. The Education Department wrote stating that a vote of £SO had been approved of for the installation of a skylight at the Boys’ School. —Received.' The chairman reported that the Appointments Committee had appointed Mr" T. L. Bailey, 8.A., to the temporary D position in the Boys’ High School, and Miss E. M. Stanwell to th< temporary U position in the Girls’ School.—Approved. RECTOR’S REPORT. The rector reported that the total number of boys upon the school roll was 703, of whom 257 were seniors, 430 juniors, and 16 paying pupils. The corresponding totals for May, 1925-20, were respectively 646, 666, 699, 711, and 721. The report continued: The annual swimming sports, held at the Municipal Baths on Friday, April 11, were very' successful, and showed a remarkably high level of performance. The Robertson Shield for the school championship was won by 6. R. Geddes (holder of the New Zealand Junior Championship), who equalled the school record of 28 3-ssec for the 50 yards, and did the 200 yards in 2min 36 3-6 sec, a fine performance for a swimover. In the Junior Championship there was a very good contest between W. J. Jarvis and W. A, Buckland, the former winning by 11 points to 7. Jarvis established a new junior record for the 66 2-3 yards (42 2-ssec), and equalled the record for 100 yards (70 4-ssec), while in the 33 1-3 yards both lowered last year’s record of 18 3-ssec by l-ssec. In the Junior Plunge Buckland, with a plunge of 43ft llin, bettered both junior and senior records. The Senior Relay Race was won by Modern Va, and the Junior Relay by IVc. On Anzao Day, April 25, the School Cadet Battalion (excepting first year boys), under Major Watt, M.p,,' paraded for the commemoration service at the Soldiers’ Memorial, Queen’s Gardens, also supplying the firing party, The battalion again provided the firing party for the funeral of the late Dr T. Harrison, former president of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association, on Saturday, May 3.—Report approved. The board offered its congratulations upon the excellent records the lads had established in the field of sport; particularly in swimming; also to the lade who had formed the firing party at the funeral of the late Dr Harrison. LADY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The lady principal reported that the roll numbers were as follow-:—Senior pupils 145, junior pupils 309, paying pupils 4;—total 458. The details for the four years were as follow:—1920, 447; 1928, 445; 1927, 468; 1926, 473. A satisfactory' term’s work had been completed. The swimming classes had had a good season, and the arrangements for the winter games were in train. On May 8, a concert had been given in the School hall in aid of the Junior Red' Cross, the sura resulting being £5 4a 7d. The meeting of the Musical and Dramatic Club had been held on Friday afternoon instead of in the evening,’.on of the power shortage, A recital from “The Pirates of Penzance " was given with the aid of the gramophone, the dialogue being read by members of the Sixth Form. A collection, amounting to £4 6s 3d, was taken up in aid of the International Student Service. —Approved. VISITING COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Visiting Committee reported, inter alia, that it had discussed with Miss. King the matter of arrangement for the diamond jubilee of the school, which would be celebrated early next year. She had informed the committee that the matter had been mentioned at a meeting of the Ex-girls’ Club, and that it was proposed to call a meeting of those interested. The committee had suggested that_ it would be advisable to take the preliminary steps nt as early a date as possible. With reference to the arrangements for banking the sports funds of the school, the committee had authorised, and requested Miss King to open an account in the Dunedin Savings Bank in the name of "The Otago Girls’ High School Sports Fund," the account to be operated on by the principal of the school from time to time or, in the absence of the principal, by such person as might be nominated by the Otago High Schools’ Board. The committee had requested Miss King to submit for the approval of the board the pictures she proposed purchasing as trophies for the swimming classes, authority for which was given by the board at the last meeting.—Approved.